- Joined
- Jan 23, 2008
- Messages
- 65,431
- Reaction score
- 10,793
[rant]
Had the cable guy out over the weekend to try to sort out some picture issues I am having on 2 of my sets. Both have the potential for HD feeds which means they both have a high native resolution, somewhat.
To explain;
One set is a 3 gun CRT retro set capable of 1080i. IIRC, CRT has no "Native Resolution" per se. However, the other is a 1920x1080 DLP set.
Okay, the problem is that when viewing animated source material. I get a slight ghosting or halo-ing (sp) outline in addition to some jitters and outright strobing of isolated bits. This occurs on both sets but the DLP adds another wonderful effect, artifacting with motion. Again, these issues are most notable on video sources and downright annoying from animated program material.
In my experience, both indicate a signal issue usually isolated at bad connections in the line but also are caused by some electromagnetic crosstalk (cable too close to electric), and/or poor shielding.
I pay the extra fee for the service protection so I call for service thinking that the guy will go into the attic, see the horrible spaghetti mess of cable previous installers have left, the numerous splices that other CG's have masterfully installed, and decide that my house wiring needs an overhaul.
Nope.
He spends about 2 minutes at each set pulling up the signal info screen, shows me that my base signal strength is 14dB above 0 (meaning no gain and no loss) and my S/N ratio is 32 (dB, IIRC) or 8 below the Fed set standard.
And then proceeds to tell me that the problem is with my sets and that their resolutions are too high for the crap 480i signals. Basically, he is saying that due to the lossy compression in the signal that when the TV's upconvert the signal to native they over emphasize the image thus creating junk to fill in what the 480 signal lacks. He suggests that all I can do is deal with it until more HD sources come on-line.
This makes sense to me except that, when I play the same program material through my DVD (assumably starting with the same crap 480 res) I don't get near as "pronounced" the "extremity" of picture problems. So, this tells me that what the CG is claiming is partially correct but not entirely the components technologocal fault.
[/rant]
I can re-wire the house myself. I just figured why bother if I am paying for this sort of thing. I mean by the fee it's the cable co's responsibility. However, the CG has basically copped out the problem.
The wiring above really is a major mess of crosses and loops and splices combined with cable lazy practices of running way to much cable cause it's easier to run on the outside of the house than in a hot attic.
I have the compression fittings and tools and have made thousands of such connections myself so, I know how to do it all. Additionally, I would be replacing the Dual Shield RG6 with Quad Sheild RG6 in significantly shorter runs. The only problems are in getting into the pedestal outside and determining which cables run the phones, Inet bridge, and each outlet (a fox and hound chore).
So, any signal geeks out there who know what I am talking about?
Should I just sit and deal or get my butt in gear and re-wire the house for the off chance that my signal cleans up as a result (after all, it is winter and won't be hot in the attic)?
Had the cable guy out over the weekend to try to sort out some picture issues I am having on 2 of my sets. Both have the potential for HD feeds which means they both have a high native resolution, somewhat.
To explain;
One set is a 3 gun CRT retro set capable of 1080i. IIRC, CRT has no "Native Resolution" per se. However, the other is a 1920x1080 DLP set.
Okay, the problem is that when viewing animated source material. I get a slight ghosting or halo-ing (sp) outline in addition to some jitters and outright strobing of isolated bits. This occurs on both sets but the DLP adds another wonderful effect, artifacting with motion. Again, these issues are most notable on video sources and downright annoying from animated program material.
In my experience, both indicate a signal issue usually isolated at bad connections in the line but also are caused by some electromagnetic crosstalk (cable too close to electric), and/or poor shielding.
I pay the extra fee for the service protection so I call for service thinking that the guy will go into the attic, see the horrible spaghetti mess of cable previous installers have left, the numerous splices that other CG's have masterfully installed, and decide that my house wiring needs an overhaul.
Nope.
He spends about 2 minutes at each set pulling up the signal info screen, shows me that my base signal strength is 14dB above 0 (meaning no gain and no loss) and my S/N ratio is 32 (dB, IIRC) or 8 below the Fed set standard.
And then proceeds to tell me that the problem is with my sets and that their resolutions are too high for the crap 480i signals. Basically, he is saying that due to the lossy compression in the signal that when the TV's upconvert the signal to native they over emphasize the image thus creating junk to fill in what the 480 signal lacks. He suggests that all I can do is deal with it until more HD sources come on-line.
This makes sense to me except that, when I play the same program material through my DVD (assumably starting with the same crap 480 res) I don't get near as "pronounced" the "extremity" of picture problems. So, this tells me that what the CG is claiming is partially correct but not entirely the components technologocal fault.
[/rant]
I can re-wire the house myself. I just figured why bother if I am paying for this sort of thing. I mean by the fee it's the cable co's responsibility. However, the CG has basically copped out the problem.
The wiring above really is a major mess of crosses and loops and splices combined with cable lazy practices of running way to much cable cause it's easier to run on the outside of the house than in a hot attic.
I have the compression fittings and tools and have made thousands of such connections myself so, I know how to do it all. Additionally, I would be replacing the Dual Shield RG6 with Quad Sheild RG6 in significantly shorter runs. The only problems are in getting into the pedestal outside and determining which cables run the phones, Inet bridge, and each outlet (a fox and hound chore).
So, any signal geeks out there who know what I am talking about?
Should I just sit and deal or get my butt in gear and re-wire the house for the off chance that my signal cleans up as a result (after all, it is winter and won't be hot in the attic)?